This past month has been a bit hellish if I don't say so myself. If hell is anything like what we have been dealing with then point me in the direction of the closest church.
Rewind a few weeks....
1st
We lose our home. A place we were planning on buying and spending the rest of our life in. We had a few months left until we were able to obtain a loan to buy it from the builder.
2nd
I got into a bit of a finder binder. I wasn't paying close attention to the cars in front of me and rear ended some guy in this big pick up truck. Thankfully all the damage was done to my car and he only needs a new hitch!
3rd
No rentals to be found in our price range. And the ones we did like were gone before we even got a chance to see them.
4th
We were being sued by the people who now own the home we are living in. For some crazy reason they believed the builder that we weren't paying and that's why he couldn't make his payments. Funny how we were able to show proof of every payment and got them off our back and made the builder look like a total butt.
5th
Scott gets a speeding ticket less than one block away from home. Not only did he get a ticket, but he was in his work truck with our son in the car. Note to all if the sign posted says 35 go 35 not almost 20 over.
6th
Still no rental going to plan B. Looking for storage, renting a Uhall and finding family to bunk with.
7th
With less than 3 days left in our home. My mother really not wanting us to stay with her in her 500sf apartment. Not that I blame her cause that's a whole lot of people in one small space. My aunt wanting us to move in with her, but once again a whole lot of people plus animals and not much more space than at moms.
8th
The heavens open up and my dad calls!! The first good thing to happen all month.
So on Thursday April 29th we made the plan to stay with my dad, stepmom and little brother until we were able to find a place.
May 1st MOVING DAY
While we struggled to figure out what all would be needed at dads while we packed up the last boxes to move wondering if there was anything that we missed. We said goodbye to our home in Orting and set out for our new adventure moving in with my parents for the first and what I hope to be the last time since moving out almost 10 years ago.
So far so good though no complaints besides waiting for the bathroom in the mornings. Making runs out to the garage bathroom in the cold. We have a mom's apartment size room to live in. The kids can play outside all day have nerf wars with my 16 year old brother and best of all we can still do school work! There is even room for all their school books.
So the month of hell has ended until the new hell starts again. Moving our crap that is packed to the gills inside a 10x30 storage unit to our new home. Whenever that might end up being.
Until Next Time,
Country Living MAMA
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Life
Just when you think things couldn't get any worse....
THEY DO
God give me strength to get through the next 4 days, cause I really really really really need it.
Until Next Time,
T
THEY DO
God give me strength to get through the next 4 days, cause I really really really really need it.
Until Next Time,
T
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Why We Homeschool
If someone would have asked me 8 years ago if I was planning on homschooling my children. I would have told them they were out of their minds.
While I was pregnant with Avery I would joke about homeschooling my child. For the simple fact I couldn't even bear the idea of one day my sweet baby who I hadn't even met yet would be leaving me.
That was 8 years ago...
Today and 3 kids later things have changed.
I started toying with the idea shortly after Chloe was released from the Hospital after her first almost 2 week long stay for RSV.
Both Avery and Bella were in preschool and were always sick and now my baby who is already fighting for her life. Didn't need to worry about getting the germs the big kids were bringing home.
When Chloe was 3 weeks old. We were informed that even a simple cold could cause serious complications.
At that time our biggest fear was open heart surgery on a newborn. I had no idea that our stuffy noses could cause heart failure. In turn if meds couldn't help counter act her heart failing that would lead to a heart transplant.
After a very sickly first year, along with weekly weigh ins and monthly meetings with Chloe's AMAZING Heart Doctor... Dr. Stamm.
Our minds were made up...
We were told that if we could make it to year 2 without any major heart problems Chloe's VSD ( Ventricular Septal Defect )would require repair at age 2.
Avery would be mid way through his school year. With that in the back of our minds we didn't want to worry about who would be around and able to take him to school if I was at home caring for a baby who just had open heart surgery.
Knowing that if I were home with Chloe caring for her there was no reason why I wouldn't be able to teach my son.
Then started the quest for the perfect homeshool curriculum. Sonlight was one of the first I found and after looking at what seems like thousands, but more like a hundred different ones. We went with Sonlight!
We are almost 2 full years into Homeschool and I couldn't be any more happy with the choice that our family has made. I get to spend my days with my children watching and helping them learn and grow.
After 2 very long years of prayer Miss Chloe walked into Dr. Stamm's office and was given a clean bill of health. While her heart defects remain they have gotten smaller. She doesn't have to go back to see him until she is 4. While the worry is gone for the most part, the memory still remains of what could have happened.
With all that being said I want to THANK YOU all for everything! The prayers over the years and the positive encouragement during our journey of life and parenthood and everything in between. We couldn't have done it without you!
Hugs and Loves,
Taylor
While I was pregnant with Avery I would joke about homeschooling my child. For the simple fact I couldn't even bear the idea of one day my sweet baby who I hadn't even met yet would be leaving me.
That was 8 years ago...
Today and 3 kids later things have changed.
I started toying with the idea shortly after Chloe was released from the Hospital after her first almost 2 week long stay for RSV.
Both Avery and Bella were in preschool and were always sick and now my baby who is already fighting for her life. Didn't need to worry about getting the germs the big kids were bringing home.
When Chloe was 3 weeks old. We were informed that even a simple cold could cause serious complications.
At that time our biggest fear was open heart surgery on a newborn. I had no idea that our stuffy noses could cause heart failure. In turn if meds couldn't help counter act her heart failing that would lead to a heart transplant.
After a very sickly first year, along with weekly weigh ins and monthly meetings with Chloe's AMAZING Heart Doctor... Dr. Stamm.
Our minds were made up...
We were told that if we could make it to year 2 without any major heart problems Chloe's VSD ( Ventricular Septal Defect )would require repair at age 2.
Avery would be mid way through his school year. With that in the back of our minds we didn't want to worry about who would be around and able to take him to school if I was at home caring for a baby who just had open heart surgery.
Knowing that if I were home with Chloe caring for her there was no reason why I wouldn't be able to teach my son.
Then started the quest for the perfect homeshool curriculum. Sonlight was one of the first I found and after looking at what seems like thousands, but more like a hundred different ones. We went with Sonlight!
We are almost 2 full years into Homeschool and I couldn't be any more happy with the choice that our family has made. I get to spend my days with my children watching and helping them learn and grow.
After 2 very long years of prayer Miss Chloe walked into Dr. Stamm's office and was given a clean bill of health. While her heart defects remain they have gotten smaller. She doesn't have to go back to see him until she is 4. While the worry is gone for the most part, the memory still remains of what could have happened.
With all that being said I want to THANK YOU all for everything! The prayers over the years and the positive encouragement during our journey of life and parenthood and everything in between. We couldn't have done it without you!
Hugs and Loves,
Taylor
Clearing up Confusion
Dear Family and Friends,Good Morning and Welcome to Blankets Bears and Binkies!
I'm sure a few of you are here for the first time due to my mass email that was sent out telling you to click on this link and read what I have written about homeschool and our family.
It was made known a few weeks ago that most of you feel as though you are out of the loop. I Taylor and Mr. Montana ( Scott ) have decided that Homeschooling is what is best for our family. No this doesn't mean we will be doing it forever nor does it mean that we wont. I take everyday day by day followed by taking it year by year.
For you wonderful blog followers that I have. If there are any of you out there. Bear with me while I walk you all family, friends, and blog junkies through a day in the life at our house.
Before I get to that I would like to say that please weather you are family, friends or bloggers if you ever and I mean EVER have a question about what we do before jumping to all sorts of crazy out of this world conclusions PLEASE just ask me.
Welcome to a day at A.I.C Academy!
A typical day here starts at 7am. Avery, Bella and Chloe are given 2 hours before we start our school day. This two hours is for waking up, eating breakfast, morning chores and getting ready for the day. At 8:45 they are given their 15 minute call until school starts. At this point teeth are brushed and hair is combed. All of this should and will be done by 9am.
Monday - Thursday School Day
9am - Morning Prayer lead by either Avery or Bella. Chloe followers their prayer with one of her own. We bless our school day each and everyday.
9:05am - Calendar
9:10am - Bible
Thanks to Sonlight my children are reading one of the most amazing books I have ever owned. Leading little ones to God. At the end of the lesson we are given a bible verse to look up and read that corresponds with the lesson.
9:45 am - Memory Verse
Over the course of 6 weeks Avery and Bella are learning Psalms 1: 1-6
at the end of the 6 weeks they get to pick and help cook that night. After dinner both of the kiddo's get to recite what they have learned.
10 am - Copywork (handwriting)
10:30am - Reading ( Avery reads to us ) and Phonics
11am - Spelling ( Spelling Tests are on Thursday, if there are any missed words they write them each 4 times and then I retest them on those words on Friday )
11:15 am - Math
Avery is working on Horizons 3rd grade and Bella is working on Horizons K
(Math Tests are given every 10 lessons for Avery)
Noon - Lunch time
During lunch I read aloud to the kids while they eat. At the moment we are reading Charlotts Web.
After the kids are done with Lunch Avery has free time until 1 while I get the Chloe down for a nap.
1pm - History
1:45pm - Creative writing
2pm - Local News - Avery and Bella get to pick a story from the local news they want to tell us about. Then they write a small paper and either draw a picture or we will print a picture from that story. The last thing they wrote and told us about was the Volcano in Ice Land. It's been an on going story they have been working on for the last few weeks.
2:30pm - Clean up from our school day. If there is any unfinished school work that hasn't been finished from the day ie. Copywork, handwriting or reading this is when it is done.
Our School day is always done by 3pm. If we have had a good school day, no tears, fighting to get work finished and things like that. They tend to go out to play or the Wii can be played for a while.
Friday School Day
Before Noon the day is the same
1pm - Science
2pm - Art
We have found that saving Science and Art for Fridays works best.
A.I.C Academy is in session year round. This allows for us to take days off here and there or for times when we have family in town and they get to take a week off to visit!
Both Avery and Bella are testing at grade level and above in many subjects. At times when they have struggled with something it has been addressed and taken care of. I feel they are blessed for this reason. Where they struggle they are given more one on one time to help overcome the struggle. Where they excel they are able to work at higher grade level. All of this wouldn't be possible if they were in either public or private school.
Both Scott and Myself have taken the required classes and courses to be able to homeschool our children in the state of Washington.
Scott and I feel very lucky to be able to home teach our children. Along with that we are very thankful to have found such a WONDERFUL curriculum to use. If it wasn't for Sonlight I'm not sure where we would be or what our children would be doing.
I consider myself lucky and thank God each and everyday for giving me the strength to teach my children at home. He has given our family so much in the last years and continues to show us that we have made the right choice for our family.
For this season in my life I'm a stay at home, homeschooling mama. Do I know what next year will bring? I don't, but I do know that God will let us know what he wants us to do!
I will continue to do weekly blog updates on our homeschooling journey. This way NON of you will be left in the dark and left to question what and how we do things around here.
As always I'm an email or phone call away to answer any questions you might have about OUR choice to homeschool OUR children.
Please feel free to check out the Sonlight curriculum we use at http://www.sonlight.com/
Also you can check out Washington Homeschool Organization at http://washhomeschool.org
and read over the Washington homeschool laws at http://washhomschool.org/homeschooling/law.html
I hope this blog finds everyone happy, healthy and well.
Hugs, loves, Blessings and Best Wishes!
Scott, Taylor, Avery, Bella, and Chloe
PS. All questions can be sent to either my main email or at AIC.Academy@yahoo.com
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Dont Blame Me
I voted for the other guy...
Sitting here just thinking about how our world is changing before my very eyes is heartbreaking.
I'm not so much worried for myself, but more so worried about the future of our world for my children.
I have spent the last few days away from my computer, TV and radio. For the simple fact that I just cant bear the idea of what is happening.
Yesterday ( Monday ) I had to make a phone call to our family Doctor to check in with them after Miss Chloe's ER visit last Tuesday ( that's a whole different story ). Our poor doctor was running around like a chicken with his head cut off worried about the future of his practice.
Once that phone call was over I myself was headed over to see my Doctor for my yearly 2 years late. I know how bad am I? Anyway I'm at high risk for breast cancer I figured that yesterday I was going to be planning on making an appointment for my first mammogram.
To my surprise...
Guess what that is no longer an option for me until I am 50.
Funny thing that my grandmother was diagnosed long before she turned 50. So I guess that I'm just a sitting duck waiting until I'm 50 like a ticking time bomb for breast cancer. To top it off if I happen to come across a lump before I turn 50. I will have to see not only my normal doc, but then she will send me to another doc to check out the same thing followed by one more doc and they all have to have decide that a mammogram is the best thing for me before I can get one.
WHAT THE HECK...
Second thing that worries me just a bit. I have a small child who was born with 3 congenital heart defects who is one of the lucky one who gets to have one of the worlds best heart doctors in our back yard willing and wanting to see us anytime we even have a question about her heart.
She has 9 months to go before she needs to be seen by him again.
I have been told that if I want her checked out by him one last time I need to get on it. Because we will end up loosing him as our doctor too.
WHAT THE HECK...
So I'm going to spend the next I don't know how long running around getting everyone seen by the doctors we love and trust before our health care becomes a total mess.
The other thing both Scott and I are thinking about is baby #4.
We have always talked about one more, but the other thing we really want is that my obgyn be the one who all my children. So it turns out that we might be embarking on a new chapter in our lives sooner than later of becoming a family of 6. Lets just hope that we will only be a family of six, but I will need to come to terms with the fact that my body doesn't want to allow me to have babies on my own anymore. So we will be entering a new chapter in our lives.
With the meds that I will need to start to be able to have another child could possibly lead to twins. And the odds double for me because well twins run in my family.
On a funny note Mr. Montana and I spent the day talking about what happens if we mix our babies up and ways to make sure it doesn't happen. For whatever reason he loves the idea of twins, but he isn't one to get up in the middle of the night nor is he the one who would have to share his body with them for 9 months nor does he have to give birth to them either.
Well that's my rant for today...
Until Next Time,
MOM
Sitting here just thinking about how our world is changing before my very eyes is heartbreaking.
I'm not so much worried for myself, but more so worried about the future of our world for my children.
I have spent the last few days away from my computer, TV and radio. For the simple fact that I just cant bear the idea of what is happening.
Yesterday ( Monday ) I had to make a phone call to our family Doctor to check in with them after Miss Chloe's ER visit last Tuesday ( that's a whole different story ). Our poor doctor was running around like a chicken with his head cut off worried about the future of his practice.
Once that phone call was over I myself was headed over to see my Doctor for my yearly 2 years late. I know how bad am I? Anyway I'm at high risk for breast cancer I figured that yesterday I was going to be planning on making an appointment for my first mammogram.
To my surprise...
Guess what that is no longer an option for me until I am 50.
Funny thing that my grandmother was diagnosed long before she turned 50. So I guess that I'm just a sitting duck waiting until I'm 50 like a ticking time bomb for breast cancer. To top it off if I happen to come across a lump before I turn 50. I will have to see not only my normal doc, but then she will send me to another doc to check out the same thing followed by one more doc and they all have to have decide that a mammogram is the best thing for me before I can get one.
WHAT THE HECK...
Second thing that worries me just a bit. I have a small child who was born with 3 congenital heart defects who is one of the lucky one who gets to have one of the worlds best heart doctors in our back yard willing and wanting to see us anytime we even have a question about her heart.
She has 9 months to go before she needs to be seen by him again.
I have been told that if I want her checked out by him one last time I need to get on it. Because we will end up loosing him as our doctor too.
WHAT THE HECK...
So I'm going to spend the next I don't know how long running around getting everyone seen by the doctors we love and trust before our health care becomes a total mess.
The other thing both Scott and I are thinking about is baby #4.
We have always talked about one more, but the other thing we really want is that my obgyn be the one who all my children. So it turns out that we might be embarking on a new chapter in our lives sooner than later of becoming a family of 6. Lets just hope that we will only be a family of six, but I will need to come to terms with the fact that my body doesn't want to allow me to have babies on my own anymore. So we will be entering a new chapter in our lives.
With the meds that I will need to start to be able to have another child could possibly lead to twins. And the odds double for me because well twins run in my family.
On a funny note Mr. Montana and I spent the day talking about what happens if we mix our babies up and ways to make sure it doesn't happen. For whatever reason he loves the idea of twins, but he isn't one to get up in the middle of the night nor is he the one who would have to share his body with them for 9 months nor does he have to give birth to them either.
Well that's my rant for today...
Until Next Time,
MOM
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas Crazy Nightmarish People, Feeling Thankful I don't work Retail
Scratching my head while in line at Toys R Us wondering what people think it's going to be like shopping only 4 days before Christmas. I always repair myself knowing fully well that a line is going to be the place I spend most my time while Christmas Shopping.
With a smile on my face I ask the person at check out how their day is going. 90% of the time I end up apologizing for the stupid person who just happened to be in front of us for yelling or being rude to them. Remind them that the Holidays are almost over and people will go back to their normal rudeness in just a matter of days.
Then you have the wonderful, kind hearted and just plain sweet people you meet while trying to find that perfect barbie. You know the kind of people you wish that you could just shrink, stuff in your pocket to take home. I like to call these people GRANDPARENTS. I'm not saying that all of them are sweet, easy going and bring along their patients. But for the most part they are having a fun time finding last minute gifts for their lovable grand babies.
With only 3 sleeps left until Christmas I do have to say that I am way a head of the game as far as shopping goes. I'm just about done... last minute stalking stuffer's and the normal socks and undies to pick up for the kiddo's. This is the first year in I don't know how long that My mother and I were the only ones from this house out shopping. Last year Chloe in her PJ's joined us for the madness knowing that she wouldn't remember the things we picked up for her.
I'm beyond thankful I was able to walk out the door last night leaving my stuffed up, temper tantrum throwing children at home. You would think that yesterday wouldn't have been as bad as it was. Seeing that my children cant seem to stop worrying about if they made it onto Santa's nice list.
It's been weeks and weeks of threats from the big kids to each other about calling 1-800-Santa to let him know that they have been naughty. It was so bad the other night that I was forced to let them know that I was about to call Santa myself so he could put them both on the "LIST".
On a serious note for my readers....
There is a list that I would love for you to put our family on if you wouldn't mind.
Our family received some not so great news last week. While I'm not going to go into detail on here because of the sensitivity of the issue. Please keep our family in your prayers over the next few months. My aunt went in a few weeks ago to have something very simple and routine taking care of that ended up being much more serious than that. So if you wouldn't mind keeping her, and her family in your prayers that would be wonderful.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
With a smile on my face I ask the person at check out how their day is going. 90% of the time I end up apologizing for the stupid person who just happened to be in front of us for yelling or being rude to them. Remind them that the Holidays are almost over and people will go back to their normal rudeness in just a matter of days.
Then you have the wonderful, kind hearted and just plain sweet people you meet while trying to find that perfect barbie. You know the kind of people you wish that you could just shrink, stuff in your pocket to take home. I like to call these people GRANDPARENTS. I'm not saying that all of them are sweet, easy going and bring along their patients. But for the most part they are having a fun time finding last minute gifts for their lovable grand babies.
With only 3 sleeps left until Christmas I do have to say that I am way a head of the game as far as shopping goes. I'm just about done... last minute stalking stuffer's and the normal socks and undies to pick up for the kiddo's. This is the first year in I don't know how long that My mother and I were the only ones from this house out shopping. Last year Chloe in her PJ's joined us for the madness knowing that she wouldn't remember the things we picked up for her.
I'm beyond thankful I was able to walk out the door last night leaving my stuffed up, temper tantrum throwing children at home. You would think that yesterday wouldn't have been as bad as it was. Seeing that my children cant seem to stop worrying about if they made it onto Santa's nice list.
It's been weeks and weeks of threats from the big kids to each other about calling 1-800-Santa to let him know that they have been naughty. It was so bad the other night that I was forced to let them know that I was about to call Santa myself so he could put them both on the "LIST".
On a serious note for my readers....
There is a list that I would love for you to put our family on if you wouldn't mind.
Our family received some not so great news last week. While I'm not going to go into detail on here because of the sensitivity of the issue. Please keep our family in your prayers over the next few months. My aunt went in a few weeks ago to have something very simple and routine taking care of that ended up being much more serious than that. So if you wouldn't mind keeping her, and her family in your prayers that would be wonderful.
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Dear Jim Bob, Michelle and Family
Your family is in our Prayers and thoughts.
We love you even though we don't really know you, but we feel as though we do.
Our family just wish you all the very best and hope for the very best for you all.
While I know that there are many more families out there like us feeling the same way we do right now.
From many many many miles away we are giving each and every one of you a GREAT BIG HUG.
If there was any other way right now that we could help you other than prayer we would be there with BELLS on.
Just know that we are praying for you and loving you all from way over here in Washington. May all your prayers be answered and the love that we all have for you guys be felt.
Blessings,
Scott, Taylor, Avery, Isabella, and Chloe
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
We love you even though we don't really know you, but we feel as though we do.
Our family just wish you all the very best and hope for the very best for you all.
While I know that there are many more families out there like us feeling the same way we do right now.
From many many many miles away we are giving each and every one of you a GREAT BIG HUG.
If there was any other way right now that we could help you other than prayer we would be there with BELLS on.
Just know that we are praying for you and loving you all from way over here in Washington. May all your prayers be answered and the love that we all have for you guys be felt.
Blessings,
Scott, Taylor, Avery, Isabella, and Chloe
Until Next Time,
Just MOM
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